Cefetamet pivoxil in pediatric otitis media

Cefetamet, an oral 3rd-generation cephalosporin, was investigated in 40 children with acute otitis media in a comparative randomized trial. The efficacy of 20 mg/kg cefetamet syrup in 20 patients was compared with that of 20 mg/kg cefaclor in another 20, both drugs being given orally twice daily for 7 days. Tympanocentesis was performed for every child before the initiation of antimicrobial treatment. After 7 days treatment with cefetamet pivoxil, clinical cure was obtained in 12 patients, 3 were failures and 5 could not be assessed. In the cefaclor group, 10 patients were cured, 1 improved and 9 were failures. No severe adverse events were observed with either drug.